Soy-based nutritional products

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a complete nutritional product that provides soy protein and enhanced levels of isoflavones. Preferably, the soy protein comprises at least 0.7 mg isoflavones / gm soy protein and at least 0.5 mg genistein / gm soy protein. The product is fortified at 35% of the RDI for calcium and contains an antioxidant package. The invention also describes the method to produce a heat stable isoflavone-enriched soy protein complete nutritional.

We claim: 
     
       1. A stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product comprising: (a) an isoflavone enriched soy protein source;   (b) a calcium source providing 35% of the RDI for calcium;   (c) a soluble calcium source at a level no greater than about 100 ppm; and   (d) a stabilizer system wherein said stabilizer system is a mixture of cellulose gel and carrageenan.   
     
     
       2. The calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product of claim 1 wherein said calcium source further comprises soy protein with bound calcium and calcium citrate. 
     
     
       3. The calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product of claim 1 wherein said stabilizer system comprises from about 1500 to about 2500 ppm cellulose gel and from about 150 to about 300 ppm carrageenan. 
     
     
       4. A stable terminally sterilized calcium enriched soy-based liquid nutritional product comprising: (a) an isoflavone enriched soy protein source;   (b) a carbohydrate system wherein said carbohydrate system contains at least corn syrup and maltodextrin;   (c) one or more sources of calcium providing a total of at least about 35% of the RDI for calcium in about 8 fl. oz.; and   said nutritional contains at most about 100 ppm of soluble calcium.   
     
     
       5. The stable terminally sterilized soy-based liquid nutritional product of claim 4 wherein said carbohydrate system comprises from about 35% to 52% of total carbohydrate as corn syrup, from 0 to about 22% of total carbohydrate as maltodextrin and from about 43% to 48% of total carbohydrate as sucrose. 
     
     
       6. A method for providing soy protein to an individual comprising enterally feeding the stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 1. 
     
     
       7. A method for providing isoflavones to an individual comprising enterally feeding said individual the stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 1. 
     
     
       8. A method for providing calcium to an individual comprising enterally feeding said individual the stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 1. 
     
     
       9. A stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product comprising: (a) an isoflavone enriched soy protein source supplying from about 17% to about 25% of the total calories of the product;   (b) a lipid source supplying from about 5% to about 15% of the total calories of the product;   (c) a source of carbohydrate supplying from about 56% to about 68% of the total calories of the product;   (d) one or more sources of calcium providing a total of at least about 35% of the RDI for calcium in about 8 fl. oz.; and   said nutritional contains at most about 100 ppm of soluble calcium.   
     
     
       10. The stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 9 in which the isoflavone enriched soy protein source comprises at least 0.7 mg isoflavones / gm soy protein. 
     
     
       11. The stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 9 in which the isoflavone enriched soy protein source comprises at least 0.5 mg genistein / gm soy protein. 
     
     
       12. The stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 9 wherein the lipid source supplies from about 10% to about 14% of the total calories of the product. 
     
     
       13. The stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 9 wherein the carbohydrate source supplies from about 57% to about 65% of the total calories of the product. 
     
     
       14. The stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 13 in which the carbohydrate source contains a blend at least corn syrup and maltodextrin. 
     
     
       15. The stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product of claim 9 wherein the vitamin and mineral system further comprises Vitamin A, beta-carotene, Vitamin B 1 , Vitamin B 2 , Vitamin B 6 , Vitamin B 12 , Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Choline, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, magnesium, chloride, trace minerals, and ultra trace minerals. 
     
     
       16. The stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claims 9 wherein the caloric density is from about 0.60 kcal/ml to about 1.10 kcal/ml. 
     
     
       17. A method for providing soy protein to an individual comprising enterally feeding the stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 9. 
     
     
       18. A method for providing isoflavones to an individual comprising enterally feeding said individual the stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 10. 
     
     
       19. A method for providing genistein to an individual comprising enterally feeding said individual the stable calcium enriched soy-based nutritional product according to claim 11.